Weather and ball tactics to shape Test
A cloudy Test will rob Proteas of their masterful reverse swing strategy
Hobart — The clouds that scudded low and heavy over Mount Wellington here on Thursday brimmed with news both good and bad for bowlers hoping to take wickets in the second Test between Australia and SA that starts at Bellerive Oval on Saturday. If they bring rain — as they are forecast to do on Saturday, and also on Sunday and Monday — there will be no wickets for the taking. But if the rain stays away the clouds should help the ball swing. Hello wickets. Then again, clouds mean more moisture even if the heavens stay closed. Goodbye reverse swing. And that is bad news for SA, whose mastery of one of cricket’s less obvious, more subtle skills was a significant factor in them winning the first Test by 177 runs at the Waca. Despite being dismissed for 242 in their first innings, losing Dale Steyn to a broken shoulder after he had bowled only 12.4 overs in Australia’s reply, in which the Proteas conceded 166 runs before they took a wicket, the visitors found ways to earn one of the most ...
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